Time for Champagne

Champagne is among my favorite wines.

Lily Bollinger of the House of Bollinger Champagnes (one of James Bond’s favorites along with Dom Perignon), comments on the best occasion to drink it:

“I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad.
Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company
I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it when I’m not hungry
and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it -
Unless I’m thirsty.”

And, of course, it’s also great for special occasions like New Year’s eve. So, what’s the best champagne for new year celebration?

Well, the good thing about real champagne is that its almost all good. You can buy the big names like Veuve Cliquot, Moet Chandon and Louis Roederer and chances are you’ll be happy. But this year you might want to experience what the cognoscenti will be drinking – They’re called “Grower Champagnes.” And as the name suggests these wines are produced by the same people who actually grow the grapes. (The big producers buy most of their grapes from many different growers).

I recommend the wines imported by Terry Theise. I met Terry many years ago at the Calvert-Woodley wine store in Washington, D.C. The last time I saw him he told me “I’m starting my own importing business.” Well, he’s become the leading figure in finding the best grower champagnes. I’ve tasted most of the bubbly he imports. They’re all wonderful. My three favorite producers are:

Vilmart & Cie (Rilly-la-Montagne)

Pierre Gimonnet (Cuis)

Pierre Peters (Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger)

As Mark Twain quipped: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.”

Cheers and Happy New Year!